“The Assembly measures are more sweeping and comprehensive in addressing
the problem than anything seen to date.”

The Journal News,
Editorial, Dec. 9, 2005

A tough, comprehensive and effective plan to protect New York’s communities from sexual
predators has been proposed by the Assembly majority.

The Child Safety and Sexual Predator Punishment and Confinement Strategy, the result of
a series of public hearings, includes not just civil commitment, but tougher penalties, expanded
monitoring of sex offenders and improved services for crime victims.

It’s clear that dangerous sex offenders need to be kept off the streets. After public hearings and
careful research, the Assembly majority introduced a comprehensive plan that addresses the
threat of sexual predators in our communities.

Specifically, the legislation includes:

Longer sentences for the worst sex crimes

Civil commitment for dangerous predators

Mandatory treatment for offenders

Better services for victims

After carefully researching this issue, the Assembly majority has proposed a more thorough, more
effective plan than any other currently under consideration in Albany. The Assembly majority urges
the governor and Senate to join it in supporting this innovative plan for making our communities safer.

Stricter sentencing for serious sex crimes

The Assembly’s plan provides for up to life sentences for the most heinous sex crimes—those where
the perpetrator harmed the victim, threatened the use of a weapon, committed the crime against multiple
victims, or was previously convicted of a felony sex crime.

“The Assembly proposals offer a good foundation from which the Assembly, Senate and
governor’s office can build to create a civil commitment law and other sex-crimes legislation.”

Syracuse Post-Standard,
Editorial, Dec. 9, 2005

Adults convicted of serious sex crimes in which the victim is under the age of 13 could spend the rest
of their lives in prison, regardless of any other aggravating circumstance.

Civil commitment for the worst sexual predators

A key element of the plan provides for the potential lifetime civil commitment of sexual predators after they
finish their prison sentences. Under the Assembly’s plan, the process would begin with the state Attorney
General petitioning the courts after a psychiatric examination of the offender and input from mental health
professionals.

Sex offenders subject to civil commitment would have the same due process as in a criminal
proceeding—including access to a public defender and a probable cause hearing. Civil commitment would
be ordered if a jury unanimously decided that an offender is a violent sexual predator who is likely to repeat
a horrific crime again.

And even if it is determined that civil commitment is not necessary, the Attorney General would still have the
ability to ensure a convicted sex offender remains under intense supervision. While those civilly confined
could be housed in state mental hygiene facilities, they would be barred from coming in contact with the general
population of patients with mental disabilities.

“The Assembly … unveiled a comprehensive package with key provisions that would lengthen
prison sentences for the worst offenders and authorize life-long monitoring and supervision
of them in the community—good ideas all.”

Newsday,
Editorial, Dec. 12, 2005

Mandatory treatment for incarcerated sex offenders

The Assembly’s package also requires mandatory treatment for incarcerated sex offenders. The state
Department of Correctional Services currently operates a sex offender treatment program but it is not
required by law and it lasts for only six months—one of the shortest prison-based programs in the nation.
Under the plan, an expert panel would be formed to determine the best way to improve methods for the
treatment of sex offenders.

Additional legislation

The Assembly’s plan also includes other significant legislation, including a measure to immediately stop
sex offenders from being removed from the state registry while the federal government considers Megan’s
Law changes that could be enacted at the state level as well (A.9082).

The plan also includes the Sexual Abuse Prevention Act (A.8294), which:

“The Assembly’s plan, released after a series of public hearings and consulting
with experts, has opened the door to what could be action on the issue in Albany.”

Poughkeepsie Journal,
Dec 12, 2005

Requires 12 hours of training for police officers in the investigation of sexual assault cases

Provides for a toll-free, statewide hotline to connect sexual assault victims with a rape crisis
center in their area

Mandates that Internet service providers give subscribers written notice of the availability of filtering
devices which screen out material harmful to minors

Directs the Office of Children and Family Services to develop a training curriculum for child protective
services workers to be used in investigating sexual abuse

Other bills would require the development of a mandatory, age-appropriate public school curriculum on
how children can better protect themselves from sexual assault and abuse (A.8415)
and make training videos to help parents protect their children available at public libraries and police precincts
(A.9148).

A plan to keep our neighborhoods safer

“The plan would provide what has been lacking in New York state until now: a smart,
tough, coordinated plan to protect our communities from sex offenders.”

Schenectady Gazette,
Editorial, Dec. 16, 2005

Again, the Assembly majority’s plan to protect our communities and families from sexual predators is easily
the most comprehensive, tough and effective plan introduced so far. It would impose tougher sentences on
sex offenders, keep the most dangerous predators civilly confined, and intensely monitor them if they are
released.

Passage of the Assembly’s plan will help New York families sleep better at night. The Assembly majority
fully expects the Senate and governor to join it in making this plan the law of the land and a significant
accomplishment of the 2006 session.

The Assembly Internet Information Service is available to those interested
in receiving timely legislative updates by e-mail.

To subscribe to this service, please drop us a line at
signup@assembly.state.ny.us, indicating your
area of interest. (The Assembly Internet Information Service will not release, sell or give away a subscriber’s
e-mail address, name or any other information provided without express permission from the subscriber.
Each e-mail notice or newsletter will contain simple instructions for removing your name from the mailing
list if you decide you no longer wish to subscribe.)